Wim van den Heever / Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) feeding in shallow water at dawn, Etosha National Park, Namibia.

David Tipling / Avocets (Avocetta recurvirostra) wheeling over over the scrape at Cley Norfolk Wildlife Trust Reserve, North Norfolk, England, UK, February.

Loic Poidevin / Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) pair mating, Vendeen Marsh, Vendee, France, March

Loic Poidevin / Pied avocets (Recurvirostra avocetta) foraging in water, Le Teich, Gironde, France, January.

Pedro Narra / Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) scratching face, Sado estuary, Portugal. December

Pedro Narra / Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) walking, Sado estuary, Portugal. November

Nick Upton / Common / Eurasian crane (Grus grus) pair 'Monty' and 'Sedge' with their young chick, being mobbed by an aggressive Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) for approaching too close to its nest...

Nick Upton / Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) harassing Common / Eurasian crane (Grus grus) 'Sedge' and her chick near the Avocet's nest site in marshland pool, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, UK, June 201...

Brian Bevan / Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) feeding, Lincolnshire, England, UK, June.

Brian Bevan / Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) walking through shallow water, followed by swimming chicks, Lincolnshire, England, UK, June.

Brian Bevan / Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) parent with three chicks, Lincolnshire, England, UK, June.

David Tipling / Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) Titchwell RSPB Reserve, Norfolk, England, UK. August